Fortitude
Definitions
- Fortitude is the virtue that enables one to face danger, difficulty, or pain with courage
- Moral strength and courage in the face of adversity
- The virtue that moderates our fear of dangers and emboldens us to pursue difficult goods
What is Fortitude?
Fortitude is the courage to do what is right despite fear, difficulty, or opposition. In medicine, fortitude enables physicians to make difficult decisions, deliver hard truths, advocate for patients, and persist in challenging circumstances.
Why should we practice the virtue of Fortitude?
- Patient advocacy: Fortitude gives us courage to advocate for what's best for patients even when it's unpopular
- Difficult conversations: Strength to have honest conversations about prognosis and end-of-life care
- Moral courage: Ability to speak up against unethical practices or harmful policies
- Professional resilience: Capacity to persevere through the demands of medical training and practice
How do we foster Fortitude?
- Face small fears: Build courage by addressing smaller challenges before larger ones
- Reflect on your values: Know what you stand for to give you strength when tested
- Find support: Surround yourself with colleagues who share your commitment to excellence
- Learn from examples: Study physicians who demonstrated courage in difficult situations
- Practice speaking up: Start with lower-stakes situations to develop the habit of advocacy